"It is based on the same principle of rainbows formed by sunlight being diffracted by water molecules or ice particles in the atmosphere but in this case the light source is moonlight," Gomez said.
"I have seen rainbow halos around the moon but these are circular encompassing the moon."
Although the event isn't all that rare, Gomez said the phenomenon at night can only be caused by a full moon, due to its brightness.
With the effect of a lunar eclipse the night before, it made it even clearer, he said.
Hawke's Bay Today editor Craig Cooper said it was the first time he had seen a moonbow photograph.
"Thanks Jody, for sending this in, it's great to share it with our readers."
